Decision to clamp down on metal thefts in Hinckley has been welcomed

A DECISION to clamp down on metal thefts in Hinckley has been welcomed by the two councillors who campaigned for new measures to be introduced after a town church was repeatedly targeted by thieves plundering lead.

A DECISION to clamp down on metal thefts in Hinckley has been welcomed by the two councillors who campaigned for new measures to be introduced after a town church was repeatedly targeted by thieves plundering lead.

The Scrap Metal Dealers Bill was passed through parliament earlier last month which saw a number of new regulations drafted in.

As part of the new law, all scrap metal dealers will be required to hold licences in an attempt to clamp down on rogue traders. Local authorities and the police will have the power to revoke licences if they suspect a dealer of illegal activity.

The changes include the banning of cash payments at scrap metal yard with payments only being made now by cheque or by an electronic transfer of funds. This will enable the relevant authorities to be able to trace people who are selling stolen metal much easier.

The new bill also strengthens the licensing regime around scrap metal and gives more powers of entry into yards suspected of dealing in stolen metal. Anyone flouting the law could face heavy penalties with magistrates being able to impose unlimited fines on offenders.

Councillor Michael Mullaney, Liberal Democrat for Hinckley Trinity and his colleague councillor David Bill, Lib Democrat for Hinckley Clarendon, had been campaigning for tougher laws to be brought in to tackle metal theft since two incidents occurred at St Mary’s Church in Hinckley last year.

The church suffered £50,000 worth of damage when thieves attempted to steal lead from the church roof. This was followed by a second theft a short time later.

Councillor Mullaney said: “Metal theft has hit our community as we saw with the thefts from St Mary’s Church. I’m glad these laws have come into place and hope that they will help prevent repeats of these kind of crimes.

“The Home Office estimate there were 67,000 metal thefts last year and this new law ought to go some way towards clamping down on rogue dealers and taking away the market for stolen metal.

“This is positive progress but we will have to see how successful these measures are at stopping this damaging crime.”

Councillor Bill added: “These metal thieves seem to have no morals at all when it comes to stealing metal. Churches like St Mary’s here in Hinckley have been victims of metal theft and even war memorials have had the metal taken from them.

“I’m glad that as we approach the 100th anniversary of World War One more action is being taken to protect these monuments.”